2011 Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament

Class 1A First Round

Ar-We-Va 60, Lynnville-Sully 38

A long wait has ended for the girls basketball program at Ar-We-Va.

Playing in the state tournament for the first time in 20 years, the second-ranked Rockets swept into the Class 1A semifinals with a 60-38 victory over No. 9 Lynnville-Sully.

Ar-We-Va pulled away by outscoring the Hawks 40-21 in the second half after leading just 20-17 at halftime.

The Rockets had great balance, with four players scoring in double figures. Dani Kock led with 13 points, 10 rebounds and five steals and she got plenty of help.

Melissa Greve added 12 points and nine rebounds, freshman Paige Danner scored 11 and Katlyn Ertz had 10. The Rockets had 14 steals in all and owned a 41-31 rebounding advantage.

Brianna James led Lynnville-Sully with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Tara Van Rees scored 12 to go with five steals.

The game turned in the third quarter, which Ar-We-Va started with a 16-6 run to open a 36-23 lead. Lynnville-Sully got the lead down to 10, but Danner hit a 3-pointer just before the third quarter ended to return to momentum to the Rockets.

Ar-We-Va's only other appearance in the state tournament came in 1991, when the Rockets finished third in the six-player field. They take a 23-2 record into a semifinal game against Bellevue Marquette Catholic at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Lynnville-Sully, a three-time state champion, finishes with a 20-5 record.